Vyachaslau Dashkevich: They did not even let me hold my son's hand

Vyachaslau Dashkevich was seriously worried on the way to Hlybokae. Firstly, because he had doubts that Zmitser would be there as there was information in the Internet the day before the meeting that Zmitser Dashkevich had allegedly been transferred to the Valadarski Street detention center, with a reference to "experienced employee of the colony". Another reason for worries was Zmitser's health - in which state would he find his son? The father was ready for everything after all these hunger-strikes, prison transportations and disciplinary cells.

The political prisoner was there so Vyachaslau Dashkevich got to the planned two-hours meeting with his son. He could only see him through the glass, even without the usual telephone receivers. There was not a single gap in the glass. So they shouted to one another, clinging to the glass to hear the reply.

Vyachaslau Dashkevich: "It surprised me a little that there are only 2 cabins there. Usually they have phones in such situations, but there were no phones here - just the glass. However, I saw from the start that he looked healthier than in the Zhodzina prison. He was thinner and sadder then. Now I can state that he looked normally, much better than when he was in Zhodzina, or in the Valadarski Street detention center, let alone Horki".

Zmitser Dashkevich was arrested the day before the election-2010 and convicted to 2 years of imprisonment allegedly for hooliganism. The "Young Front" leader has to serve a 1 year and a month more. Zmitser was considered a political prisoner by the international community.  

Zmitser's father deeply regrets that his son's fiancée Nasta Palazhanka was not allowed to see him although they could have admitted her.

Vyachaslau Dashkevich: "The law allows not only relatives, but also close friends to meet with a prisoner. The law does not prohibit it on the terms that it may facilitate a prisoner's "good personal formation". They did not let his fiancée to see him, referring to... I don't even know what they referred to. The law does not prohibit it".

Does Zmitser Dashkevich have any complaints?

Vyachaslau Dashkevich: "He complained about the pain in his leg. I don't know whether someone had hit him or he had hit someone... He said he needed a knee surgery. Where did they hit him? Maybe they hit him during the arrest, as they dragged him by the arm and by the leg in turns..."

Zmitser is still in the solitary cell.

"He writes and reads a lot, studies English and does a lot of self-education," - Dashkevich's father goes on. "The editor's office of the "Free News" sends him the newspaper in an envelope. He asked to subscribe him for "Nasha Niva" and "Narodnaya Volya" for the next three months.

Vyachaslau Dashkevich says that the colony's guards watched their conversation closely but did not interfere.

Vyachaslau Dashkevich: "Some women, and guards in the uniform watched us in turns. There are two cabins and there was a meeting in the other one as well. We shouted, they shouted, but no one gave any remarks or warnings to us".

Vyachaslau Dashkevich asked to let him hold his son's hand for a moment in the end of the meeting - they refused...

Vyachaslau Dashkevich: "He collected some things which he did not need so I could take them away, when I had already walked out. I walked out and he was still standing there, behind the door. I asked the lady whether it was possible to open the door for a second so I could hold his hand. She said no. No means no...".